Table top



July 26, 1949. E. RICHARDSON TABLE TOP INVENTOR.

Tiled Feb. 14, 1945 Patented July 26, 1949 M TABLE TOP Ernest Richardson, Beaver Falls, Pa., assignor to Ingram-Richardson Mfg.

Company, Beaver Falls, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application February 14, 1945, Serial No. 577,904

This invention relates generally to improvements in the attachment of preformed porcelain enameled sheet metal to prefabricated frames and more particularly to the construction of porcelain enameled metal panels arranged for vertical or horizontal mounting on cabinets and tables, and the manner in which they are fitted and secured to prefabricated frames.

Although this invention is particularly adapted for use on single or multiple table panels, commonly known as kitchen tables, the principles are readily adapted for use in conjunction with cabinets, stands and other similar articles of furniture requiring porcelain enameled sheet metal walls, tops, faces and doors arranged to be secured to prefabricated frames made of any suitable material such as wood. plastic, steel and the like, wherein the combination of the sheet metal and the frame provide the desired rigidity of the article.

The principal object is the provision of a connection between a porcelain enameled steel facing and a frame which produces a strong, tight and continuous surface therebetween.

Another object is the provision of a joint between a porcelain enameled steel member and a frame member which reenforce each other providing a continuous surface losing the identity.

of the joint and providing a protection for the porcelain enameled steel.

Another object is the provision of a joint between porcelain enameled facing and a frame wherein the underside of the facing has continuous engagement on two sides of the frame and a cleat on the third side.

Another object is the provision of a series of cleats for anchoring a porcelain enameled facing to a frame.

Another object is the provision of a plurality of cleats formed'integral with a preformed porcelain enameled facing and producing a series of open sockets to receive and connect with a frame.

Other objects and advantages appear from the drawings illustrating the invention and in the following description and claims.

A practical embodiment illustrating the principles of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged isometric view partly in section showing a table top connected to a frame.

Fig. 2 is a view of the under side of the table top and frame shown in Fig. 1.

fFig- 3 is an isometric viewzpartly in section showingavertical panel "connected to a frame.

8 Claims. (01. 311106) 2 i Fig. 4 is a broken sectional view showing a modified form of a porcelain enameled table top and frame.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the table top shown in Fig. 4 with a different type of frame trim.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the frame and trim shown in Fig. 5 with parts broken away.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing the table top or facing panel It! consists of a preformed steel sheet having a porcelain enameled coating which may be plain or suitably decorated in colors. The preformed table top In is provided with a perimetral depending flange l l of uniform depth which joins the body of the top with a radius of curvature I: that is shorter than the depth of the flange to provide a purchase surface IS in a plane normal to the table top. At spaced intervals the under side of the table top has a series of spaced cleats or angle brackets [4 which are welded thereto prior to the formation of the porcelain enameled surface. The vertical leg it of each angle bracket is provided with at least one hole to receive a fastening screw 16 and is gauged relative to the purchase surface l3 of the flange H to form a socket between the adjacent surfaces of these members and in which the frame I! of the table is received. The frame I Tillustrated in Fig. 2 is rectangular in shape and is provided with the cross brace or support Hi. If the frame is made of wood or steel it is prefabricated as a unit from five or more pieces matched at their connecting joints or the frame may be molded into an integral unit when made of a suitable plastic material. The brackets 20 and 2| are the same as the brackets 14 but are gauged relative to each other to provide a socket to receive the cross brace l8 therebetween.

The perimetral edge of the frame I! is provided with a mating curvature and offset 22 to receive the inner curved surface and the purchase surface I3 of the flange l I in continuous surface engagement. A small clearance is preferably provided between the bottom edge of the flange II and the shoulder of the offset 22 to'insure engagement between the under side of the table top and the upper surface of the frame If. However the shoulder of the offset 22 is equivalent in width to the thickness of the porcelain enameled steel to provide a smooth and substantially continuous surface at the joint between the exterior of the flange H and frame IT as shown.

To prevent the porcelain enameled surface on the flange II from being struck or bumped, the frame I! is provided with a perimetral protrudingedge 23 which'in Fig. 1 is shownas a roundbeyond and below the perimeter of the panel to form an offset in the frame to receive the flange, and the flange and the offset being constructed to form a continuous surface of the panel and the frame edges.

5. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that the flange is interned, an offset in the frame to receive and be engaged by the edge of the flange, and the flange and the offset being c0nstructed to form a continuous surface of the panel and the frame edges.

6. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that the flange is inturned, a trim secured to the frame and having an ofiset to receive and be engaged by the edge of the flange, and the flange and the offset being constructed to form a continuous surface of the panel and the frame edges.

'7. In a porcelain enameled panel to frame connection the combination of a panel member having a perimetral flat surface, a perimetral flange on the panel depending below the flat surface, an annular series of angle brackets secured in spaced relation to the panel member, each angle bracket having a depending portion set at a gauged distance from the flange section opposite thereto to form a series of open sockets with the under side of the perimetral flat surface and the flange, a continuous annular frame having top and side surfaces arranged to fit the sockets and to mate in surface engagement with the under side of the perimetral flat surface and the opposed surfaces of the flange and the depending portions of the angle brackets, and means to secure each depending portion of the angle brackets to the frame and maintain the surface engagement of the panel and the frame. 8. The structure of claim '7 characterized in that the flange is inturned, an annular trim hav ing an oifset to receive and be engaged by the edge of the flange and extending beyond the perimeter of the panel with a return bend engaging the under side of the frame, a series of spaced pockets in the outer top edge of the frame, and a series of tongues on the trim extending into said pockets to secure the trim to the frame.

ERNEST RICHARDSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,145,681 Harrison July 6, 1915 1,235,432 Burrowes July 31, 1917 1,509,853 Vance Sept. 30, 1924 2,187,893 Richardson Jan. 23, 1940 

